No more football for UNC's Leifheit, but education continues

Published: Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 8:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 8:24 p.m.

T.J. Leifheit didn't have to be told that his college football career was over. He could feel it in his bones – or in this case, his chronically sore right ankle and a bad back that finally did him in.

"Looking at how much damage I had in my back it just wasn't smart to go on," the now-former North Carolina offensive lineman and Wilmington native said Friday.

"The only thing I could do at this point was hurt myself even more, in a serious way. You only have one back. That's something you're going to have to deal with the rest of my life. I had so much damage to my back because of my injury, I just couldn't play anymore."

Leifheit was a four-star prospect who helped Hoggard High to the 4A state championship as a sophomore.

But because of his physical problems, which included two surgeries on his ankle and another one on his back last spring, he played in only one game in his three seasons with the Tar Heels.

That came in the 2011 season opener against James Madison.

The 6-foot-7, 305-pound tackle, Leifheit was one of three UNC players granted a medical exemption earlier this week that will allow them to remain in school and finish work on their degrees, even though they are no longer members of the football team. Linebacker P.J. Clyburn and wide receiver Reggie Wilkins are the other two.

Because he is on schedule to graduate next spring with a double major in business management and political science, Leifheit said his time at UNC has been anything but a disappointment.

Once he finishes his undergraduate work, he plans to attend UNC's Masters accounting program to get his CPA, then attend law school so he can pursue a career as a tax attorney.

"It's definitely been frustrating, but sometimes you just have to play the hand you're dealt," he said.

"Sometimes things just don't work out the way you want them. I'm extremely thankful for the opportunities I've had. I got to do things most people only dream of, but it didn't work out. It's just one of those things."

<p>T.J. Leifheit didn't have to be told that his college football career was over. He could feel it in his bones – or in this case, his chronically sore right ankle and a bad back that finally did him in.</p><p>"Looking at how much damage I had in my back it just wasn't smart to go on," the now-former North Carolina offensive lineman and Wilmington native said Friday.</p><p>"The only thing I could do at this point was hurt myself even more, in a serious way. You only have one back. That's something you're going to have to deal with the rest of my life. I had so much damage to my back because of my injury, I just couldn't play anymore."</p><p>Leifheit was a four-star prospect who helped Hoggard High to the 4A state championship as a sophomore. </p><p>But because of his physical problems, which included two surgeries on his ankle and another one on his back last spring, he played in only one game in his three seasons with the Tar Heels.</p><p>That came in the 2011 season opener against James Madison.</p><p>The 6-foot-7, 305-pound tackle, Leifheit was one of three UNC players granted a medical exemption earlier this week that will allow them to remain in school and finish work on their degrees, even though they are no longer members of the football team. Linebacker P.J. Clyburn and wide receiver Reggie Wilkins are the other two.</p><p>Because he is on schedule to graduate next spring with a double major in business management and political science, Leifheit said his time at UNC has been anything but a disappointment.</p><p>Once he finishes his undergraduate work, he plans to attend UNC's Masters accounting program to get his CPA, then attend law school so he can pursue a career as a tax attorney.</p><p>"It's definitely been frustrating, but sometimes you just have to play the hand you're dealt," he said. </p><p>"Sometimes things just don't work out the way you want them. I'm extremely thankful for the opportunities I've had. I got to do things most people only dream of, but it didn't work out. It's just one of those things."</p>